runny nose, losing voice, coughing up phlegm mild headache. Got testing first thing-Neg

[demtenjeep]

went to wally world for some school supplies for my classroom

in front of me were 3 unmasked idiots buying cigs


I coughed loudly and moistly and they looked at me.


I had a mask on



I SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOo wish I had the ability to lie and tell them I had covid


but I don't want to jinx myself

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

1. Sounds like a basic cold.

[LisaL]

10. Or Omicron.

Rapid antigen tests are giving lots of false negatives.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

20. I do wonder a lot about false negatives and false positives.

We don't seem to be reading much about either one, and they are important.

Lucky me, I've not had any symptoms, and as far as I know (so far) have not been close to someone soon after who tested positive. It helps a lot that I live alone, I'm long out of the work force, can limit my interactions with others, and live in a state (New Mexico) where people (at least in my part of the state are very good about masking.

This past weekend I was in Colorado Springs at a small science fiction convention. Science fiction people are VERY science minded. We had to have proof of vaccination to get in. Everyone was masked. And masked properly.

[Ms. Toad]

25. virtually no false positives - a lot of false negatives n/t

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

32. Thank you for that information.

While false negatives are disturbing, at least there are not many false positives, which means trying to figure it all out is a bit simpler.

[live love laugh]

35. The CDCs confusing advice to end quarantine (ie. 5 days) and sham test sites make it difficult

to be sure you or anybody else is negative.

I have a vaxxed friend who tested negative in a rapid test but positive in the non rapid test. She was circulating freely based on the negative test results with symptoms cough and all -- sometimes unmasked. She’s vaccinated but not boosted. She was symptomatic with a cough beyond 5 days but kept circulating pointing to the 5 day rule to justify going out.

Local news has repeatedly warned there are many fly-by-night rapid-test places that are unreliable to say the least. They advise finding out which lab any testing site works with and verifying it before getting tested.

So the likelihood of coming in contact with infectious people is very high amidst all the confusion.

[Poiuyt]

38. I heard a sore throat was the first indicator of covid

The news: Dr. Allison Arwady, the commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health, recently said sore throats predict COVID-19 infection, per NBC Chicago.

• “Especially in people who we’re seeing these more mild breakthrough infections, we are definitely seeing sore throat be a predictor in that group,” Arwady said.
• She said anyone who has cold- or flu-like symptoms should assume they have COVID-19 “until proven otherwise” through testing.
• “Even if it’s a sore throat, no matter what it is,” she said. “I’ve told my own staff this, it’s what I do myself... if you are sick, even a little bit sick, stay home. More true than ever right now because sick, even a little bit sick, until proven otherwise with a test — that’s COVID. That’s how we treat it, that’s how you should treat it.”


https://www.deseret.com/coronavirus/2022/1/18/22889271/omicron-variant-symptom-predict-covid-19-infection

[Tink41]

41. YES!!!

And she is absolutely correct. Sore throat! My PCR just came back positive and although there were earlier indicators one might not notice, sore throat was the thing that caused me to pause and only because I had read her comments a few days before. Earlier sign for me was feeling unable to finish the day at work 2 days in a row, and in turn napping 2 hrs after work both days. Highly unusual for me. But I just didn't take note.

[Tink41]

2. City Chief of Public Health

For the major metropolitan city in my vicinity has reiterated since New Years: If you are having cold symptoms : Assume it is COVID
Studies coming back especially in vaxxed, boosted to test negative. Not sure why. Those same symptoms started for me Friday. Lost voice yesterday, occasional cough and when I say occasional I mean maybe every 5 hrs. No fever. Chills, fatigue, muscle aches, throat on fire! Major congestion. Tested - on rapid, had PCR test today awaiting results. Hope you feel better soon.

[targetpractice]

8. This seems reasonable... COVID Omicron is much more contagious than a cold...

... That's what I would assume if I had such symptoms, despite masking, vaxxed, negative antigen test, etc. It's the mostly likely respiratory virus to catch out there..

[Maru Kitteh]

3. I wouldn't hang my whole hat on that negative if I were you.

1) When did your symptoms start?
2) What kind of test did you get? (POC/antigen or PCR)

[Tink41]

4. True!

Did quite a bit of reading myself since I am sick, and it seems to be the consensus at the moment

[demtenjeep]

5. I don't know what kind

swab up the nose
results in 30 min



school nurse in my building

[LisaL]

7. Sounds like a rapid antigen test.

It could very well be a false negative. So I wouldn't assume you don't have covid.

[Maru Kitteh]

24. school nurse + 30min equals rapid antigen test. HIGH % of false negatives in

the first few days of symptoms. I've also noticed it's taking even longer than usual for the rapid antigen tests to capture Omicron.

I agree with others who have stated you should probably assume you are COVID+ and/or get a PCR test.

[live love laugh]

36. I think many of the tests being used are basically obsolete in that were designed to find Covid 19.

[Irish_Dem]

6. I had the same symptoms and tested neg for Covid.

Headache, lost my voice, some coughing, runny nose.
Have been sick for two weeks, but two Covid tests came back neg.
Must be flu or cold.

[LisaL]

9. Which tests did you get?

Rapid antigen tests are giving a lot of false negatives, especially with Omicron.

[Irish_Dem]

15. Not rapid. I got Molecular lab test (PCR / NAAT). Supposed to be the most accurate.

I tested negative with a home kit. But when I didn't get better I went to CVS and got the best lab test I could get. Took three days to get the results, so it is not the rapid.

A friend of mine also had the same symptoms and tested negative for Covid, and she got the test done from a different lab.

Both our doctors say a cold is going around at the same time as Omicron.

But who knows? If the tests are no longer valid with Omicron, then we no longer know who has covid.

[Ms. Toad]

23. You don't - so stay home if you have something obviously contagious which is consistent with COVID.

[Irish_Dem]

29. Yep, I isolated from day one.

Even when my tests came back negative and I was told I just have a cold.
I don't want to spread a cold. Or Covid, or whatever I have.

[Tink41]

13. Chicagos Chief of Public Health

Is suggesting to treat these symptoms as having COVID. Omicron seems to be a different animal. The major symptom that pops up over and over with this variant is : SORE THROAT! Lots and lots of sore throat.

[Irish_Dem]

19. If tests are false negatives then we don't know who has Covid, who has a cold.

So then the docs say just say it is all Covid.
Geesh.

[Tink41]

22. At this point

I think its best to assume you have it, with those symptoms and isolate. I wasn't too happy about it, but better safe than sorry infecting others. I mean at this point what's the difference really? We are either vaccinated, boosted and hoping for the best and recover, or we are not and hope for the best either way.

[Irish_Dem]

26. I isolated right from the beginning before I got tested.

I assumed I might have Covid until I received a valid test.

Even when my tests came back negative I still isolated because even if it is only a cold I don't want to spread that either.

[Tink41]

30. Sorry

I think my reply was generally speaking as opposed to directly at you.

[Irish_Dem]

31. No problem, it is good advice.

[AZSkiffyGeek]

17. Had major congestion and slightly sore throat over the weekend

I was exposed in the ER last Tuesday. No fever, no aches, but I have been tired.
Couldn’t find any testing appointments, but I’m not going out in public.
I assumed it was COVID on Saturday, now I’m not so sure.

[LisaL]

11. Don't assume you don't have it.

You need to get a PCR test.

[Irish_Dem]

27. I got a PCR and it was negative.

[liberal_mama]

12. My husband had those same symptoms like 6 weeks ago and he tested negative for Covid

It really was just a cold.

However, a month later, he caught Covid. He tested positive January 2 on a home test, and positive on a lab test on January 3. His symptoms were a high fever of 102.5, severe sore throat (it was so bad that he could barely talk, he said his throat felt like it was sliced up with razor blades), muscle aches, fatigue, chills, and uncontrollable coughing fits. I'm not sure if he was infected with Delta or Omicron as both were circulating in our area at the time and they don't tell you what variant you have, but it certainly wasn't a "mild cold" like some people are saying. He was really sick and I was afraid he could die.

[LisaL]

14. I had two elderly relatives (vaxxed and boosted) catch covid recently.

One was asymptomatic. The other got covid pneumonia and died.
It is mild in some people, not mild in others.

[Tetrachloride]

16. In the morning, gargle with water and a teaspoon of peroxide to loosen phlegm

and rinse with water. cough up any debris deeper in the throat. rinse again.

[demtenjeep]

18. thank you

will do


thanks

[Ms. Toad]

21. Please stay home until your symptoms reverse or you get a negative PCR test.

Omicron is testing negative on the kind of test you took (rapid). Sign up for a PCR test (one that takes 3 days or so to return) and isolate.

I had very similar symptoms. I had 3 negative rapid tests (the kind you had) and a negative PCR test at the peak of my symptoms. Six days later, my daughter developed identical symptoms - just a bit worse. She had a rapid negative test while waiting for the results of her PCR tests. Because of lousy rules at Amazon, she had to go back to work on day 6 becuase she did not yet have a positive test (and, absent a positive test her leave would be converted to 5 days unpaid, instead of 10 days paid).

Her results came in about 3 hours into her shift. She was positive.

That means I almost certainly had it, as well and never tested positive.

[Tink41]

28. This seems quite common now.

My boss around week before Christmas had just gotten done isolating. 3 tests. 1 was PCR. All negative, finally Dr visit, where his Dr advised to assume it was COVID and isolate.

[BlackSkimmer]

39. I agree.

No need to give it to others.

Kind of inconsiderate, whatever it is.

[mcar]

33. Had very similar symptoms

took 2 PCR tests to get a positive. Take care.

[Meowmee]

34. I have had symptoms for 4-5 weeks now

I could not get a home test until week 3-4 Ht neg. . I did a mouth saliva pcr test which is new at a new test site the same day. It took 2 days and was neg. I realize though it still could have been O since I was tested 3 weeks after the start of symptoms. I am still having symptoms.


But something else is going on with my swollen lymph node, sore throat but not a normal one, pain at swallowing, in tongue, neck, node and throat. I had been feeling better but throat etc. is now worse again. It was going into my chest, back pain as well, and I still have some congestion, I had a low fever, and some point, headaches etc. runs., sneezing, nasal congestion, hoarse voice etc. I now have a secondary sinus infection for sure. I had 5 days amoxy but I think I need more maybe.

Although I think it could have been O, I feel something else is going on as well. Keeping the heat high, resting a lot and tea, salt gargles seem to help me a lot more especially the heat and heating pad and lidocaine patches. At first tylenol did not help my throat/ neck pain much at all. Salt gargle, throat coat tea, heating pad on back- the best- and lidocaine gel work much better so far. I had a day where all the weird throat stuff felt much better and then it was worse again the next day which is so frustrating because I thought I was turning a corner. The first time when I had covid pneumonia it went in for weeks, 3- 4 months and became long haul. I had an ebv reactivation then so maybe it it has flared again.

[hamsterjill]

37. There are still other things other than COVID making the rounds

Wishing you all the best. In South Texas, we are dealing with cedar fever and allergies are going wild. Hard to tell the difference because symptoms are the same.

[Tink41]

40. Resurrecting this

My test just came back. Positive. My rapid test my first full day of symptoms was negative. Congestion, lots of sore throat, deep dull body aches, tired, minimal cough. No fever. I feel I'm at end of this now as I'm feeling fairly good. These rapid tests are not so good at picking up Omicron variant